Image courtesy of Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce, click to enlarge
Posted 11/17/12 –The Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce will again host a Holiday shopping kick off event in downtown Sierra Madre the
Santa at the 2011 Dickens Village celebration, he will return at Who Ville Saturday
Saturday after Thanksgiving, from 1 to 8pm and while it will incorporate many of the activities of the popular Dickens Village event of the last several years, this year’s Who Ville event will feature some new activities, including a cold-hearted Dr. Seuss character who may just warm up with a little help from old Saint Nick.
Carols will fill the air, the town Christmas tree will be lit in Kersting Court at 7pm, local non-profits will have booths, there will be a downtown kids wonderland featuring a train ride and snow sledding, horse and buggie rides will be available beginning at 4pm, and the Grinch will make an appearance, as will Santa Claus himself.
Friends of the Arts will provide a children’s art activity, and there will be works of Sierra Madre artists for sale. Civic Club will offer hand made gifts as a fundraiser for its philanthropic activities. Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society will be selling its award-winning Sierra Madre Centennial book, the Rose Float Association will be selling 2013 Float merchandise, the Garden Club will have plants for sale, and the Woman’s Club will have treasures of Sierra Madre for sale.
Festivities will also include a showing of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on a big screen in Kersting Court, beginning at dusk. Also in Kersting Court, Bean Town will kick off it’s Marine Toys for Tots gift drive.
Stop by and shop local on Small Business Saturday. One recent study showed that the amount of revenue returned to the local community by locally-owned, independent businesses was about 52 percent of all revenues compared to about 14 percent for national chain stores. The report also indicated that local eateries returned nearly 79 percent of revenues compared to just over 30 percent for national restaurants. After all, when you shop locally, you basically put that money into the community three times…the shop you purchase from very likely has a local accountant, possibly a local attorney, pays local employees, banks locally, etc. Think about that, and help our local retailers out by coming to Who Ville this Saturday.